Retracting door hardware



Dec. 10, 1963 L. WESTLUND 3,113,338

RETRACTING DOOR HARDWARE Filed NOV. 15, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1

INVENTOR. fowl/v L WESTL u/vo Arron/V571;

Dec. 10, 1963 E; L. WESTLUND 3,33

' RETRACTING DOOR HARDWARE Filed Nov. 15, 1961 a sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVEN TOR. fDW/NLVVESTL u/vo AT'I-aRNEKr .Dec. 10, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1961 FIG. 5

INV EN TOR. EDWIN L V1455 TL UND ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,113,333 REERAC'IING DUQR HARDWARE Edwin L. Westinnd, 5341 sec Road,

Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Nov. 15, 1951, Ser. No. 152,411 7 Claims. (Cl. 16-1) This invention is hardware for controlling the actions of a door. It may be used in either a vertical direction or in a lateral direction depending on the orientation of the hardware. It is novel in part by reason of having spring tension applied to one of the door guiding followers through a pivoted arm. Further the spring not only aids in opening the door and to counteracting in part the weight of a door in a vertical application but also acts to hold it closed. A means for variably securing to the panel also permits the ready adjustment of the spring and therefore the strength of the spring force applied to the closure means. The unit is also novel in that it is constructed as a complete panel containing all of the moving parts. Positioning the panel correctly is relatively easy and the parts correctly aligned. Yet another feature of this invention is to have the tracks and brackets so related to each other in the hardware that the door is positioned close to a wall of the closure when it is open.

The hardware of the type disclosed by this invention, speaking generally, has previously had the shortcoming of offering little or no assistance to the opening of the supported door. Another shortcoming of the previous hardware for retracting doors has been that the door is not moved out of the way as far as possible when the unit is opened. Yet another shortcoming of prior hardware for doors of this kind, when the spring assist is provided, is that the spring is a relatively expensive and complicated structure in which the spring forces a member to slide in a channel requiring careful construction for a smooth operation. These previously spring loaded, swinging, sliding closures also provide no means for altering the tension on a spring which will accordingly vary in tension as the unit ages and which also limits a given unit to be used only with a given size of doors for which it is specifically designed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide novel retracting door hardware.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a retracting door hardware element that is contained in a single panel.

A still further object of this invention is to provide retracting door hardware in which a spring means both assists in opening the door and holding it closed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a retracting door hardware unit in which the spring tension applied to the door is transmitted through a pivoted arm.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a retracting door hardware panel in which spring tension a plied to the door is adjustable.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a retracting door hardware panel that employs a tension rather than a compression spring for applying spring pressure to the mechanism.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a unitary panel containing all of the elements for a swinging sliding door closure at one side thereof with a similar but reverse panel providing all of the elements at the other side thereof and which include springs to aid in the operation thereof, the anchors for which springs are accessible from the side of the panel that is exposed when the panel is mounted.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent and apparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail ertain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through a cabinet illustrating my hardware door panel in side elevation with portions thereof broken away to illustrate construct-ion more fully; broken lines illustrate hidden parts;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 except that the door is shown in an adjusted position; broken lines illustrate hidden parts;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that shown in FIGURE 1 with the door entirely closed and different portions of the panel broken away to illustrate construction; broken lines illustrate hidden parts;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line and in the direction of the arrows i4 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modified form of the invention; broken lines show hidden parts; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragment of the structure shown in FIGURE 5 with the door in the closed position; broken lines show hidden parts.

Referring to the drawings, the unit is illustrated in connection with the representation of a cupboard having a shelf member 16, a back 11, a top 12 and side wall 13. The panel 14 is the frame for the hardware assembly.

In the plate or panel 14 are formed a pair of tracks one of which is L-shaped having a vertical portion 15 and a horizontal portion 16. Vertical portion 15 is cut entirely through the panel to the reverse side thereof while the track portion .16 is only a deep groove in the plate 14. A second channel member 17 has a horizontal portion extending substantially parallel to portion 16 of channel 15-16 and has a portion adjacent the front of the panel which diverges from channel :15-16 toward the upper forward corner of plate 14. One might also think of the outer end of channel 17 as converging or declining from a point near the upper front corner of plate 14 in toward the central portions of panel 14 or toward channel 16 and then curving into a horizontal portion that extends substantially parallel to the portion 16. Channel 17 appears more clearly in FIGURE 3 than it does in FIGURE 1.

In the face of plate 14 that is placed against wall 13 is a cut away portion designated 18 which provides an area within which an arm 19 may pivot on any suitable pin as at 2%. In the event that the vertically extending leg portion 15 is straight as in FIGURES 14, the arm 19 is provided with a slot 21 which may slide on pin as well as pivoting thereon. Contiguous to the cut away portion 18 is a still more cut away portion 22 which provides sufficient depth between the arm 19' and panel 14 to provide space for spring 24.

Spring 24 is connected to arm 19, reeved around roller 25 and extends into the channel 26 provided therefore adjawnt to the cut away portion 22. The end of spring 24 is anchored to panel 14, preferably adjustably, by any suitable means such as the wire hook 27 engageable with any of the eyebolts 28. Hook 27 passes through the opening 29 so as to be secured to the end of the spring 24 and still place the hook 27 on the outside of the panel where it can be readily adjusted without the need to re move the panel from the wall surface 13.

At the end of arm 19 is pusher 30 which rides up and down in the vertical portion 15 of the L-shaped channel 15-16. Pusher 30 extends nearly to the outer face of plate 14 so as to engage surely the follower 31 of bracket 32. A second follower 34 on bracket 32 engages track 17.

Bracket 32 is L-shaped in section as appears in FIG- URE 4, and this provides a ready means for attaching the bracket to a door 35 in any suitable manner as by the screws 36. On the inside bottom of the door is a finger gripping cutout 37 used in closing the door.

Follower 31 of bracket 32 is placed in the slot 1516 above pusher 30. For this reason the arm 19 is always depressed whenever the door is closed and is raised by spring 24 whenever the door is opened. The former condition may be observed in FIGURE 3 and the latter in FIGURE 1. No handle or knob for opening the door is provided for reasons which Will be apparent when the operation of the unit is discussed below.

Turning now to the disclosure of the modified form of device, in FIGURES 5 and 6, we observe a cupboard having a shelf 40 with a side wall 41, back 42 and top 44. A plate or panel 45 similar to panel 14 is provided having the tracks 46 and 47. Track 46 is still generally L-shaped with a generally vertically extending portion cut entirely through panel 45 and varying from that disclosed in FIGURES 1-4 by being curved in the are described by arm 47 pivoting about its pivot point 48.

The balance of the parts may be substantially identical and will be described specifically in connection with the disclosures shown in FIGURES 1-4. Referring first to FIGURE 1 in which the cabinet is shown with the door 35 open, the finger well 37 may be engaged and the door drawn forward to the position shown in FIGURE 2. As the door is completely supported by the followers riding in the tracks, little or no effort is involved in so sliding the door.

At this point, follower 31 engages the pusher 30 which is secured to arm 19. In order to close the door, pressure is next applied outside of the door at a point 0pposite to finger well 37. Such pressure overcomes the tension or force applied by spring 24 and forces arm 19 to pivot down as pusher 30 is depressed by follower 31. At the same moment, follower 34 sliding in track 17 proceeds to move toward the front of the cabinet; and when the door is at an intermediate position between the horizontal position of FIGURE 2 and the vertical position of FIGURE 3, follower 34 passes the bend point in the track 17. Continued downward pressure on door 35 causes follower 34 to ride up the inclined portion of groove 17 and when the door approaches a vertical position, the tension applied to arm 19 by spring 24 causes the door to complete its closing operation, follower 34 riding up to the end of track 17 near the top front corner of panel -14. Spring tension on arm 24 applying an upward pressure against follower 31 and hence the bracket 32 will retain the door in a closed position without other latch means.

When it is desired to open the door, no knob or the like is required. Pressure is merely applied to the top center of the door forcing it inward and until follower 34 reaches a point on the inclined portion of track or groove 17 that is beyond the point of direct opposition to the lifting force of spring 24. At this point, the door will be carried by force of spring 24 to the position shown in FIGURE 2 providing spring 24 has been provided with enough tension to lift the weight of the door. If spring tension is too great, causing the door to be difficult to open and hard to close, tension can be reduced by adjusting the hook 27. If spring tension seems inadequate to provide the lift for the door that is desired, the spring tension may be increased by moving hook 27 to an eyebolt 23 farther from the front of the cabinet. Once the arm has lifted the door to the position shown in FIGURE 2, a gentle push on the front ledge of it will cause it to retract.

In the device shown in FIGURES 1-4, as pusher 3t) slides up and down the track portion 15, arm 19 will slide rearward on slot 2 1 embracing pivot 20 and will be at the outer end of the pivot only when the follower is at the top and bottom of slot 15. This structure although a little more complex than that disclosed in FIGURES 5 and 6 is preferred generally because the sliding as well as pivoting arm structure permits a greater variety of lengths of slot portions 15 for any given size of hardware bracket. As shown in FIGURES 1 4, the panel may be made large enough to handle relatively large doors without the necessity for having arm 19 swing in as large an are as would be true of arm 47 which pivots only.

Because means is provided for adjusting the amount of tension on spring 24, a single size of panel may serve well for several different weights of doors. In FIGURE 1, it is seen that a door substantially longer than door 35 could be readily accommodated by grooves 16 and 17 as the followers 31 and 34 have not been moved to the rear thereof yet door 35 is fully retracted.

Likewise, this hardware could be applied to doors that enclose closet space or the like but which move entirely horizontally. In order to visualize how this unit would work for a closet door, for example, one need only imagine that FIGURE 1 was a horizontal section of one side of a closet with the tracks and with plate 14 secured to the floor or ceiling of the closet. Door 35 then, instead of tipping inwardly and sliding over the top of a shelf, as at 10, would merely tip in at one side and slide in to the closet parallel to one wall thereof. Because spring 24 would not be lifting the weight of t e door in such a vertical application, it would not be necessary to have much tension on spring 24.

It is to be noted that all of the hardware except the bracket 32 is completely enclosed in panel 14 and is therefore always protected against engaging articles stored in the space enclosed by door 35. Furthermore, as the parts are all mounted on the panel which is itself secured to the cabinet, the various parts are all appropriately located with respect to each other without any skill on the part of the user in aligning them. Panel 14 is merely placed in the cabinet with its leading edge recessed from the front thereof, the thickness of door panel to be used. The top of panel 14 is placed flush with the underside of top 12. Brackets, such as the one 32 are appropriately positioned on the door and screw holes arranged to provide for easy mounting of the unit after it is inserted. Then with one bracket secured to the door, the other bracket is mounted in the tracks 16 and 17 as shown in FIGURE 1. After the door is positioned over the bracket, the screws 35 may then be driven in the previously provided screw receiving holes to secure the door to the second bracket and mount the door inside the cabinet.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A hardware fixture for a door comprising:

(A) a panel,

(B) an L-shaped track in said panel with both vertical and horizontal portions,

(C) a mainly horizontal track in said panel (1) diverging from the horizontal toward the top of said panel, (2) from a point near the vertical portion of said L-shaped track, (D) a pusher (1) movably mounted on said panel and (2) extending into the vertical portion of said L-shaped channel, (E) a spring secured to said pusher and to said panel (1) urging said pusher to the top of said vertically extending portion of said L-shaped channel, and (F) bracket means (1) having followers thereon that (2) extend into said L-shaped channel above said pusher and (3) said diverging channel. 2. A hardware fixture for a retracting type door comprising:

(A) a panel, (B) an L-shaped track therein including (1) vertical portions and (2) horizontal portions, (C) a second track in said panel (1) extending in part parallel to the horizontal portion of said L-shaped track and (2) in part diverging therefrom toward the top of said panel, (3) the vertical portion of said L-shaped track being open to the opposite side of said panel, (D) an arm pivoted to said panel,

(1) on the opposite side thereof from the side in which said tracks are formed, (E) a pusher secured to said arm and (1) extending into the vertical portion of said L- shaped channel, (F) a spring secured to said arm and to said panel,

(1) as to apply upward pivoting motion to said arm, and (G) bracket means having followers thereon that extend (1) into said L-shaped channel above said pusher and (2) said diverging channel. 3. The structure of claim 2 in which (D) said arm is (2) also slidably secured to said panel. 4. A closure hardware bracket means of the overhead closure type in comprising:

(A) a plate, (B) a vertical track portion extending (1) entirely through said plate, (2) near its forward edge, (C) a channel in said plate (1) beginning at the upper outer corner of said plate and (2) declining in toward the center of said hardware plate for a distance and (3) then extending in a direction parallel to the upper edge thereof,

(D) a horizontal track portion communicating with said vertical track portion, (E) a door bracket having followers thereon extending (1) into said track portions and (2) said channel,

(F) an arm pivoted to said hardware plate and (1) having a pusher element thereon extending into said vertical track portion, (G) a spring secured to said arm (1) at a point intermediate the pusher element and pivot point,

(2) reeved around a roller near but below said second horizontal channel and (3) extending in a spring channel on the back of said bracket plate (4) to a point of attachment at the rear of said panel, and

(H) means for anchoring said spring near the rear of said panel.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which (H) said means for anchoring said spring comprises (1) a plurality of spaced anchoring elements secured to said panel,

(2) a cooperating anchoring element secured to spring and selectively engageable in said spaced anchoring elements.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which (H) (1a) said plurality of spaced anchoring means are eyebolts and (2b) said cooperating anchoring means is a hook.

7. The structure of claim 4 in which (F) said arm is (2) slidably secured to said panel also.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,993,690 Sullivan Mar. 5, 1935 2,259,819 Holmes Oct. 21, 1949 2,590,508 Carver et al Mar. 25, 1952 2,663,047 Grenzeback Dec. 22, 1953 2,668,980 Eaton et al Feb. 16, 1954 2,751,624 Lipking "a June 26, 1956 

1. A HARDWARE FIXTURE FOR A DOOR COMPRISING: (A) A PANEL, (B) AN L-SHAPED TRACK IN SAID PANEL WITH BOTH VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL PORTIONS, (C) A MAINLY HORIZONTAL TRACK IN SAID PANEL (1) DIVERGING FROM THE HORIZONTAL TOWARD THE TOP OF SAID PANEL, (2) FROM A POINT NEAR THE VERTICAL PORTION OF SAID L-SHAPED TRACK, (D) A PUSHER (1) MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PANEL AND (2) EXTENDING INTO THE VERTICAL PORTION OF SAID L-SHAPED CHANNEL, (E) A SPRING SECURED TO SAID PUSHER AND TO SAID PANEL (1) URGING SAID PUSHER TO THE TOP OF SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID L-SHAPED CHANNEL, AND (F) BRACKET MEANS (1) HAVING FOLLOWERS THEREON THAT (2) EXTEND INTO SAID L-SHAPED CHANNEL ABOVE SAID PUSHER AND (3) SAID DIVERGING CHANNEL. 